Method and apparatus for assembling and attaching tiling



l w. 1. KENT. Y M THOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHINGTILING. -1,350,410.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.24. |918.

f w v L.. i n.. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I rllllllllllllll I 1|. ...II TIL n nuw llllllllllllllllllllllll I 5f N I I 'WITNESS 'amm Mh 2f Mam/ I w..1.KENT. MET'HOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING TILING.

5 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTOR By .Ahforncys, l rL-cwm, Junk U3/UP:

WITNESS fw wl 1| r'noo AND APPARAus 'Fon AssEMBuNG Ann AmcHlNG TILING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24.1918.

1,350,410. I Patenteamlg. 24,1920.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.`

`v u y By Afmeys,

W. J. KENT.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING TILING.

A l APPLICATION man 0E,c.24,19|a. 1,350,410, Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

T "INVENTOR 1 By Attorneys, fr" lx' 'MMMX .W. l. KENT.

` METHOD AND APPARATUS Fon AssEMLING AND ATTAcmNG TlLmG.

` APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24| 1918. 1 ,350,410. Patented A118. 2,4, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WHA

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.VL

WILLIAM J. KEN'I 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEWVYORK BELTING- &

PACKING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING- TILING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Allg. 24:, 1920.

Appiicatin ined' December 24, 191s. semi No. 268,197.

To all whom t may concern Beit known that I, WTILLIAMJ. KENT, a

citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough ofBrooklyn, city and,

purpose is to afford a method that will lend l itself readily to thisresult, and to provide automatic machinery to carry out such `improvedmethod. I V

In times past, products made from tiling, such as described, Vhave beenproduced largely vby hand, involving a very slow, laborious andexpensiveprocess, which is entirely done away with by my invention. By'y the present method, I aim to make it possible to handle large numbersof rubber and other tiling-expeditiously and entirely by automaticmechanism, andfurther to effeet a tight and securev joint rbetween themeeting edges of the 'various tiles.

I accomplish this by feeding the tiles, preferably in series or groups,of four for instance, transversely with respect to a support or tableupon which the sheet body, to which the tiles are to be attached, isarranged, aiid after a sufficient'number of tiles have been fedtransversely of the support to complete a row, they are caused to movetoward said sheet body, or longitudinally of the support, being forcedtightly against the adjacent edge of the sheet body which is preferablyheld tightly duringA such operation. T he tiles may be previously supplied with cement or other attaching medium applied to theirseveraliedges, and as soon as the pressure has been sulicient to' causethem to adhere to the sheet body, the latter is moved lengthwise of thesupport with the tiles attached and now forming a part of the body. Thesheet body is then in position to permit feeding in of another row oftiles, and the operations can be repeated until the slieetbody is of anylength desired, after which it is ready to be attached to a suitablebase or backing, vulcanized if desired, cut into suitable shapes andotherwise finished according to-wellknown methods of'manufacturingfloor-coverings or mats of this type. Such a method can be used inconnection with tiling of square, triangular, hexagonal or otherconfiguration.

The mechanism by which I prefer to carry out the invention comprisesgenerally a support or table which receives the sheet body as Vit isfinished `and permits it to be fed thereon, andarranged above thesupport to cooperate with the sheet body are sheet retaining means whichnormally hold the sheet rigidly in one position and are intermittentlyoperated to release 'it and permit its being fed along after a row oftiling has `been attached. The tiles are arranged in magazines,preferably with cement already applied to their edges, andA at regularintervals an ejector forces out tiles from vthe dierent magazines andmoves them into the path of a tile feeding means. The latter preferablyconsists of a reciprocatory member which forces the tiles in a directiontransversely of or across the support previously mentioned. After havingpushed one series or group of tilesforwardly, the tile feeding means isretracted in therear of a second group 'of tiles which the supplyingmechanism furnishes. After this, the feedingmeans again moves forwardly,pushing the last group of tiles into engagement withthe previous group,and moving them all a corresponding distance forwardly. rIhis operationcontinues until sufficient tiles vhave been fed in to complete a rowcorresponding to lthe width of the sheet body along the attaching edge.Immediately following this, there' comes into operation a sheetattaching and feeding mechanism which includes a follower that engagesthe' adjacent edges of the fed-in tiles and initially forces themagainst the adjacent edge of the sheet body, while the latter isretained, preferably fixed in position. The edges of the fresh tiles arethus secured to the sheet body and to each other, and thereupon thesheet body is released and the follower is again moved lengthwise of thesupport to .feed the sheet along into position where 'it can receive asecond row of tiles. The follower is finally retracted to its normalposition and the parts are then ready for a repetition of the operationjust described. e

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvementsand coming pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan View of an apparatus which illustrates one practicaladaptation of the invention, and shows a preferred form of mechanism forcarrying out the method described;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism appearing in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view enlarged, and partially in section, showing thetile vfeeding means and the operating devices therefor; Fig. 4 is asectional view on line t-l of Fig. 3; Y Fig. 5 is a sectional view online 5-5 of Fig. 3, and showing the relative position ofthe parts as anew supply of tiles is being fed in; Y

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. l andillustrating the relative positions of the parts after the alining guideis withdrawn land the follower has completed its initial movement;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after thepressure niembers have been raised to release the sheet and the followerhas completed its linal. movement;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the next step in the operationsfollowing Fig. 7, the

follower having been retracted and the alining guide restored to normalposition;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken generally on the line 9 9 o f Fig. l;

' Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the apparatus; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view in detail of one of the tilemagazines.

I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, by whichthe novel method described can be carried out, al.- though otherstructures may readily be designed to accomplish the same generalpurpose. In the mechanism shown, A designates the support or table forthe sheet body or mat, which is formed in successive steps by theattachment of successive rows of tiling, after each of which the sheetbody is fed lengthwise of the support. The tiles are preferably fedtransversely on the support A, and diagonally with reference to thesides of the completed sheet body.

In the form illustrated, it is intended to use square tiles, and to.feed them in at an angle of approximately 45 with reference to thesides of the completed sheet body. These, however, areminor details andare not essential to the invention, which is likewise applicable for usewith triangular, hexagonal, or other contours of tiles, and the lattermay be fed 'transversely of the sheet body at various angles other than45.

The mechanism shown is in accord with what I have found to be goodpractice, and I will now describe the tile supplying mechanism andfeeding means.

Tile supplying mechanism and die feed/ng i The tiles, which may be ofrubber or other libroussubstance, are positioned in theseries of squaremagazines B, four of such magazines being shown. The tiles are arrangedin vertical stacks in the magazines and at regular intervals, a tile isejected from each magazine, such tile being conveniently, although not.necessarily the lowermost one, as in the present disclosure. To thisend, I employ a tile supplying mechanism consisting of a reciprocatingejector or slide C (Figs. l, 23 and slideable upon the supportA andconstructed so as to pass through openings provided at the bottoms ofthe magazines B. The ejector C is connected by a link D with an arm Ewhich is rotatatively mounted upon post F. The arm E also carries atail-piece G which is slotted or cut away at II (see Fig.

for a purpose presently to appear.V

After the tile supplying mechanism forces the tiles from the magazinesaforementioned, the tile feeding means comes into operation and pushesthe tiles across the support A. .This feeding means, shown in thepresent embodiment of the invention, comprises a' slide or plunger Iwhich travels between guides J and K and is connected by a link L with'an arm lll, the latter being rotatively mounted on the post F alreadydescribed. N designates a driving lever which. is fiXedly mounted on thepost F and carries a sliding pin O adapted to engage a correspondingopening in the arm M and lock the latter for movement with the post F.rIhe arm M can thus be released from operation quickly by removing thepin The driving lever' N and the post F are operated by means of areciprocating rack F which engages a toothed segment Q, keyed on thepost F. The reciprocating rack I has pivoted thereto va connecting rodIl., the opposite end of which is lioined to a lever S pivotallymountedV upon a support T and carrying a rollerU which engages a camslot V in the continuously `rotating cani lV. The cam slot V is soformed as to effect eight reciprocations of the connecting rod R andrack l), after which the rack lis held in its outermost position by thedwell portion X, and this likewise serves to maintain the tile feedingmeans, or slide I, in its retracted position7 as shown in Fig. l.

During the normal operation of supplying and feeding the tiles, it isdesirable that the slide C be operated, to eject the tiles from themagazines B, after the slide I is retracted. In order to accomplishthis.y the `the varm M then carries with it the tailpiece G, causing thearm E to rotate about the aXisF, and thereby to movethe slide Cforwardly and eject a series of tiles into the path of the feedingslide'I. On' the return movement, the ejector C is first retracted tothe position shown in Fig. 3,whereupon the dog Z is movedout of thenotch H by vahead all' the tiles means of rollerA riding outfof therecess or cut-away portion B, and the feeding slide I then movesforwardly, V'engaging the tiles C Vwhich have previously been forcedinto thepath'of the slide I byI ejector vand fpushes them ahead 'to theposition shownin Fig. rlhis operation likewise forces which are in thelpath of the slide I.

Infthe arrangement shown, Iv have pro-` vided for supplying the tiles inVgroups of four each, although this Vnumber may be varied to suitdifferent requirements and under `some conditions, it ymay be desirableto supply the tiles individually; The presv ent machine is -designed tosuccessively supply` and feed forwardly eight 'groups of four tileseach, giving axtotal` width of thirty-two tiles which are. pushedtransversely of the support at an `angle of ap-V proximately 450 to thesides ofthe sheet body, as shown in Fig. l, until the farther- Y' mosttile has reachedthe opposite side of the sheet body. At such time, thetile'supplying and feeding instrumentalities are stopped for agivenperio'd to permit of attaching the fed-in tiles tothe sheet body,and feeding the latter along one `step on the support. f

According to the Apreferred method of operation, the tiles are providedwith cement applied to theirseveral edges, before'being positioned inthemagazines B, and asthey are fed from the magazines bythe ejectorC,

there `may be a tendency forthem 'to stick to theV ejector andbe drawnbackon the return stroke of the latter.Y To prevent this,

I .provide each magazineppreferably, with a. spring follower D (seeVFig. y11), supported at the front thereof andimmediately overlyingthecorresponding tile C after it has been moved from the magazine. Thepressure of the spring E which controls the follower D is suc'hlas tohold the tile with suflicient force to prevent its being drawn back intothe magazine,vand at the same Ytime,permit the slide'Ito feed the Theroller A engages the adjacent manner that will be described later,

T le guiding mechanism, and sheet attaching md feeding mechanism.

During the feeding vof the tiles, as previously described, they are heldin line by an -alining guide F along one edge, which eX- tends acrossthe support or table, and when in normal position is slightly above thesame (see Figs. 5 to S, inclusive). On their lopposite edges, the tilesare engaged by the adjacent surfaces G of a follower H', whichconstitutes the essential part of the sheet `.attaching and feedingmechanism. The

follower H is provided with an extension or flange I, which overlies thetiles and prevents their lbuckling as they arev fed loosely across thesupport. After an entire row of tiles has been fed into position forattachment to the sheet body, the alining guide F is automaticallylowered to a point {iush with or beneath the support A, andthe followerH is then moved laterally to force the tiling tightly against the sheetbody and Aattach it thereto.

The operations just referred to are' illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6,respectively, and vduring these steps, the sheet body--whic'h I willdesignate as Jis held rigidly against the table and prevented frommovement. After the tiles lChave been forcedtightly against the sheetbody J', as shown in Fig. 6, they are held inthis' position fora period1 lsuflicientto cause the cement to-unitethem Then the sheetbody visreleased in and the followerA H- againmoves laterally to force thesheetbody, which now includes the tiling C-, along the table vand out ofthe path of the alining guide F, which is then tightly.

again elevatectandf the parts made `ready 'to receive ai newisupplyoftiles. i

To accomplish thepurposesj ust described,

the? follower lil V.is of the form shown in Fig. l,extendingpreferablyacross the support A in a generally diagonal direction,and slides on a'gui'de K. The followerH is governed in its movement by .a block L whichis `adj'ustably associated with the follower by meansof screws. M on thelatter.

The screws M canfbe adjusted in the lugs L. The latter is connected witha rollerV which travels 1n a cam'slot O in a continuously rotating camwheel P', as shown inFigsffl and 2. The cam;slot O is ofsuch formationas to lcausethe follower H `to havean intermittent lateraltravellength-V wise of the support A', the first part of the movementbeingsufficient tov move the fedin VtilesA againstthe sheet body. Thefol-r "lower then comesto rest in thispositin vfor a sufficient period,after which it again travelsfforwardly to feed the sheet body `beyondthe alining guide, andthe follower is thenretracted to its normalposition, 'The N :and engage opposite sides ofv the block iso nuts, asshown in F ig. 8;

follower is held in its intermediate position by the dwell portion Q ofthe cam, while the part R serves to move the follower to its extremeoutward limit, after which it is `retracted to normal position.L

.strumentality of downwardly projecting posts X and suitable'securingcollars and Thel extension bars W are cut away at their ends, as shownat Y', and have cam portions Z' which co operate with correspondinginclined por- Y tions A2 on the plungers S'. In the normal position asshown in Figs. 5 and 8, the plungers S' are free to move upwardly intothe cut-away portion Y' of the bars IV. This permits the alining guideto project 'above the support A. As the follower'H' is moved laterally,the cam surfaces Z engage the cooperating surfaces A2 on the plungersand force the latter downwardly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 therebyholding the alining guide beneath the surface of the support during theoperation of attaching the tiles to the sheet body and feeding themlengthwise of the table. It is not until the follower H is retracted toits normal position, as shown in Fig. 8, that the alining guidev isagain permitted to assume its uppermost position, and the parts are thenready to receive another supply of loose tiling.

' I Sheet retaz'm'ngpmea/ns.

During the operation of attaching theV fed-in tiles to the sheet body,it is preferred to holdthe body rigidly in order that the necessarypressure can be exerted against it, and this may be accomplishedby sheetre'- taining means, such as I have employed,

and which includes gripping-members that engage the side edges of the'sheet and pressure members engaging the upper surface of the work endor attaching end of the sheet. -The pressure members referred to consistof spring plungers B2, preferably one being provided for each` tilealong the work edge of the sheet body. Each plunger vB2y has a base C2,which engages the surface of thesheet and is guided by Va pin D2engaging an opening E2 in the carrier F2 on which the plungers aremounted. vEach plunger is held in position by a threaded collar B2 Y andarranged between the collar G2 and a shoulder H2 on the plunger, is aspring I2 which tends to force the plunger downwardly, the latter beinglimited in its downward movement by the nut J 2. By this arrangement,when the carrier F2 is moved downwardly .toward the sheet body, the

Ybrackets N2.

wheel A3.

vwhich would otherwise cause it to move lengthwise of the support A.Then the carrier is moved to its lowermost position, the parts arearranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The necessary intermittent movementsof the carrier upwardly and downwardly are effected in the followingmanner.

The endsof the carrier are mountedon vertically movable posts K2 (seeFigs. 2 and 9), and these are pivotally connected to levers L2 which arefixed on the rock shafts M2, the latter being supported instationary Therock shafts M2 also have fitted thereon inwardly extending levers O2which are connected at their adjacent ends and provided with a roller P2engagingka cam-way Q2 in the continuously rotating:` cam-wheel R2. Thecam-way Q2 is so formed that the pressure members are held in theirdownwardpositions during the larger part of the rotation of thecam-wheel, and are elevated only for a short period, which is.ysufficiently long to permit the sheet bodyA to be fed lengthwise vof thetable the width of one row of tiles, after the latter have beenattached. Y Y i y In addition to the pressure membersjust i95 described,the sheetbody is also held byl gripping members consisting of bars S2which engage the side edges ofthe sheet and are serrated or angular tofit the corresponding corners of the tiles. The bars S2 are slidablel100 Y back and forth on the 'support A, as shown in Fig. 5. Each bar S2is provided with posts T2 which proj ect through slotted openings U2 inthe support A. The posts T2 are movable back and forth in slots U2 toad? 105 vanee and retract the locking bars S2toi ward and from thesidesof the sheet body.

To this kend, the lower ends of the posts-T2 y are connected to anglelevers V2 (see Fig. l), v

which are pivoted on stationary bearingsxno.

and connected by links W2 with a block X2' (see Fig. 2). The block X2carries a roller Y2 which engages a cam slot Z2 in the cam- Thecam-wheel A3 rotates continuously and the cam-slot Z2 is soformed 11,5

as to operate the block X2 and links W2 to Vwithdraw the side bars S2simultaneously with the elevation of the already described.V

The cam-wheels W, P", R2 and A3 are all .120

pressure lmembers j `ixedly mounted on a common driving shaft l?)swhich` carries a worm-wheel C3. The latter is driven by a worm D3mounted on'a shaft carrying a gear E2 which is'driven by a pinion F3`onthe motor shaft. 125

Operation.

The parts being in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the slide Imoves inwardly, feeding the tiles in front of it, and is thenlSOretracted, after which the ejector C forces another'seres of tilesfrom*` the magazines. r1`his alternate operation of the ejector andfeeding slide continues until the loose tiles extend entirely across thewidth of the sheet body, assuming the position shown in Fig. 5. l/Jhenthe row of tiles is completed, the operation of the supplying andfeeding devices stops, the alining guide is actuated downwardly, and thefollower H' is moved to force the tiles against the sheet body, as

shown in Fig..6. This presses the tiles'together and secures themtightly by the cement which has already been applied to the edges.Immediately thereafter, the pressure members C2 are elevated, and thegripping members S2 are withdrawn laterally, freeing` the sheet body,and the follower H again moves laterally still farther forcing the sheetbody to the position shown in Fig. 7. The follower H is then retractedto its normal position, the members S2 returned, and the alining guide Felevated to its normal position and the parts are ready for a repetitionof the operation. It will be understood that the mechanism shown anddescribed constitutes only one embodiment of my invention, lbeing thatone adapted'to` assemble square tiles in oblique order. The invention issubject to modification or rearrangement according to the particular userequired, varying with the shape of the tiles, the number in each group,the angle of feeding, and other conditions, all as will be understood bymechanics or engineers.`

After the tiles have been assembled in sheet form they may be attachedin any suitable manner to a base or backing and otherwise finishedaccording to well-known methods of manufacture. That I claim is 1. Amethod of assembling and attaching tiling to form sheets or mats,consisting in feeding tiles having adhesive sides edgewiseV andtransversely-with respect to aY sheet body until a row of requiredlength is completed,

forcing said tiles edgewise against the adja- A cent edge of the sheettosecure them thereto, and feeding the sheet longitudinally' to make roomforanother row of tiles. i

2. A method according to claim l, characterized in that thetiles `are'fed transversely of the sheet body "in successive series or groupspositioned end to end;

3. A method according to Vclaim l, characterized in that the tiles arefed transverselyl of the sheet body ona diagonal lineV with reference tothe side edges of the sheet body.

4. A method according to claiml, characterized in that the tiles are fedtransversely of the sheet body at an angle of approximately forty-fivedegrees to the side edges of the sheet body.

" 5. Mechanism for assemblingand attachof a sheet support,'tile feedingmeans operat-v ing lto feed Vtiles transversely of the support, and tileattaching and sheet feeding mechanismacting to force the tiles against asheet body and to feed the sheet lengthwise of the support.

6. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further by sheetVretaining means which holds the sheet body while theV tiles are forcedagainst and secured to it and thereafter automatically'releases thesheet.

7. Mechanism according to claim 5, in which the tile attaching andVsheet feeding mechanism imparts an intermittent movement to the tiles,to first force and hold them against the sheet body and thereafter movethe sheet longitudinally of the support.

8. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further bytilesupplying mecha.- nismrwhich intermittently positions a plurality oftiles in thev pathof the tile feeding means. n j

' 9. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further by tilesupplying mechal moves them into the path of said reciprocatory member,the latter movingv at right angles to said ejector and alternatelytoward and from a common point.

l1. Mechanism according to claim` 5, in which the tile feeding meanscomprises a reciprocatory member,` and characterized further Vby tilesupplying mechanism comprising a series of vertical tile magazines, anda reciprocatory ejector which intermittently engages tiles in themagazines and moves them into the path of said reciprocatory ,member,the `latter moving at right angles to said ejector and alternatelytoward and from a common point, and operating instrumentalities whichinitially retract said reciprocatory member and thereafter move theejector forwardly to supply a series of tiles into position to beengaged when the reciprocatory member again `moves forwardly.

12. Mechanism accordingto vclaim 5, in which the tile attaching andsheet feeding mechanism comprises a follower extending across thesupport parallel tothe adjacent edges of the fed-in tiles, and operatinginstrumentalities acting to advance the follower lengthwise of thesupport.

. 13. Mechanism according to claim v5, in which the tile attachingaandsheet feeding mechanism comprises al follower extending across thesupport parallel to the adjacent edges of theV fed-in tiles, thefollower having a projecting flange coextensive lengthwise therewith andadapted to overlie the row of fed-in tiles, and operatinginstrumentalities acting to advance the follower lengthwise of thesupport. 1

14. Mechanism according to claim 5, in which the tile attaching andsheet feeding mechanism. comprises a follower extending across thesupport parallel to the adjacent edges of the fed-in tiles, the followerhaving a projecting flange coextensive lengthwise therewith andv adaptedto overlie the row of fed-in tiles, and operating instrumentalitiesacting to first advance the follower so as to force and hold the fed-intiles against the sheet body, and thereafter move the entire sheetlengthwise of the support.

15.7Mechanism according to claim 5, inV

' which the tile attaching and sheet feeding mechanism comprises afollower extending across the support parallel-to theV adjacent edges ofthe fed-in tiles, and operating instrumentalities acting to firstadvance the follower so as to force and hold the fed-in tiles againstthe sheet body, and thereafter move the entire sheet lengthwise of thesupport.

16. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further by sheetretaining means, consisting of gripping members engaging the side edgesof the sheet vand pressure members engaging the upper surface of thework end of the sheet, and operating instrumentalities actingautomatically to intermittently elevate said pressure members andwithdraw said gripping members to release the sheet.

17. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further by an aliningguide against which the tiles are fed, and devices acting to withdrawsaid guide from the path of the tiles previously to the operation ofsaid sheet attaching and feeding Y mechanism.

18. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized further by tilesupplying mechanism which positions tiles in the path of the tilefeeding means.

kmovement, and means for preventing bucktomatically to intermittentlyelevate said j pressure members and release the sheet.

21. A machine for assembling tiling including in combination means'forsupplyingv tiles, means for moving the tiles bodily sidewise to form aunit of the required length, and means for shifting the resulting unitof tiles in a direction transverse the direction of the bodily sidewisemovement whereby the tiles may be assembled in sheet form.

22. A machine for assembling tiles including in combination means forsupplying tiles, means for moving the tiles edgewise to form a unit of arequired length, means for guiding the tiles during their edgewisemovement, and means for shifting the units of tiles in a directiontransverse the directionof their edgewise movement.

23. Amachine for assembling tiles including in combination means forsupplying tiles, means for moving the tiles edgewise to form a unit of arequired length, and mear-.s for shifting a unitof tiles in a ydirectiontransverse the direction of their edgewise ling of the tiles in a unit.

24. A machine for assembling tiles including in combination means forVsupplying tiles, means for moving the tiles edgewise to form -a -unit ofthe required length, means for shifting each unit of tiles in a twostage movement in a direction transverse the direction of their edgewisemovement, and means for temporarily holding the sheet during the firststage of each units movement in order to squeeze the preformed sheet andthe unit together.l

25. A machine for assembling tiles including in combination means forsupplying tiles, means for moving the tiles edgewiseto 1 form a unit ofthe required length, means for shifting each unit of tiles in a twostage movement in a direction transverse the direction of their edgewisemovement, and means for temporarily holding the sheet during the firststage of each units movement in order to squeeze the preformed sheet andthe unit together, said last named means including devices for applyingpressure to the sides and faces of the preformed sheet.

26. A method-of assembling and attaching tiling to form sheets,consisting in applying adhesive to the sides of tiles, feeding the tilesedgewise and transversely with respect to a sheet body until a row ofthe required lengthv is applied, forcing said row of tiles edgewiseagainst the adjacent edge of the sheet in order to secure it thereto,and feeding the resulting sheet longitudinally to make room for anotherrow of tiles. Y Y

27. A niethod of assembling polygonal tiling consisting in feeding tilessuccessively to Y form rows of a desired length, shifting each row oftiles after its formation ina direction at an angle to a side of theindividual po-130 lygonal tiles, and subsequently attaching a backing toa sheet of the thus assembled tiles.

28. A method of assembling polygonal tiling, consisting in feedinggroups of tiles successively to form units of the desired length,shifting each unit of the tiles after its formation in a direction at anangle to a side of the individual polygonal tiles, and subsequentlyattaching a backing to the resulting sheet.

29. A method of assembling polygonal tiling consisting in applyingadhesive to the edges of the tiles, feeding tiles successively to formrows of a desired length, shifting each roviT of tiles after itsformation in a sembled tiles.

30. A method of assembling polygonal tiling consisting in applyingadhesive to the edges of the tiles, feeding groups of tiles successivelyto form units of the desired length, shifting each unit of tiles afterits formation vin a direction at an an le to a side of the individualpolygonal ties, and subsequently attaching a backing to the resultingsheet.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM J. KENT.

